Wheel gauge



July 25, 1950 J. 1 wlLsoN WHEEL GAUGE Filed May 1, 1946 'v "--v//f x /Z/ s/ 1 E t N. m O X3 y u. H .0% \m .MAQ m. C Q m.\ N\m\ l I I Y: I II EN RN w MN v O TH .EN N \m\ k EN ..\m .QN

INVENTOR. Josep/7 L W//Son Attorney Patented July 25, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT EOFFICE WHEEL GAUGE Joseph L. Wilson, Matawan, N. J.

Application May 1, 1946, Serial No. 666,370

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to wheel gauges and it is primarily an object of the invention to provide adevice of this kind whereby the camber and vcaster of wheels may be readily gauged as to angle.

It is also an object of the invention -to provide I a` device of this kind which permits accurate testing of the Wheels of a Vehicle as to either camber or caster and wherein the device is of a structure to render the same readily portable,

thereby materially facilitating its convenience in use.

additional object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind including an element mounted for adjustment Within certain limitations and which serves as an index to denote the starting point of a testing operation and ings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a gauge 4constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a second position of the extension rod being indicated by broken lines and an associated wheel being also indicated by broken lines;

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation of the structure as illustrated in Figure 1, with a portion of the base broken away;

. Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 4--4 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

. In the embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, B denotes a base of desired dimensions and conguration but Which has its bottom surface at and of such dimensions to firmly rest upon a supporting surface, such as a concrete or board floor or other surface, each of which should be smooth and on the horizontal.

Rigidly secured, as at l, to the base B and preferably at an extremity thereof and at the transverse center of the base B is the lower end of an upright or standard S. This standard S, as herein disclosed, isv of channel form with its intermediate or base portion 2 forwardly disposed with respect to the base B. While this upright or standard S may be otherwise constructed, the channel formation has been found to best comply with the requirements of practice as it provides for lightness Without sacrificing strength.

The upright or standard S is mounted upon the base B in a manner whereby the intermediate or base portion 2 is at right angles to the base B so as to be substantially vertical when the device is in position for use. The portion 2 of the upright or standard S at substantially the longitudinal center is provided with a long slot 3 which extends from substantially one end of the yportion 2 to the other. The outer face of the portion 2 to one side of the slot 3 has provided thereon the ,graduations 4 in inches and which are consecutively numbered from the bottom upwardly, the lowermost number indicating the distance Ifrom that graduation to the surface upon which the base B is placed.

Positioned forwardly of the upright or standard S is a flat meter plate P of desired dimensions and which has its opposed flat faces disposed in a direction lengthwise of the upright or standard S and the inner marginal portion of this plate P is defined by a laterally disposed flange l5 which has close contact with the outer face of the portion 2 of the upright or standard S and which flange f5 extends across or bridges the slot 3.

The ange 5 is @preferably Vat right angles to the plate P and is disposed in a direction toward the graduations 4 and the outer margin of this flange 5 is provided with an outstanding index 6 for coaction with the graduations 4 so that the position of the plate P, or more particularly the meter rod 'I bodily movable with said plate, can be readily determined with respect to the surface upon which the device is positioned for a working operation.

Freely insertible through the flange `il at aligned points spaced lengthwise thereof are the headed members 8 which are also directed through the slot 3. The members 8 are also disposed through a base flange `9 of a guide bracket G and which flange y9 contacts the rear face of the portion 2 of the upright or standard S.

Outwardly of the flange 9, the members 8 have threadedthereon the enlargements l0, herein disF rclosed as conventional nuts, and interposed between eachof the enlargements I0 .and the .flange 9 of the bracket G is an expansible member Il, herein disclosed as a coil spring of requisite tension encircling the member 8` The members or springs Il operate to maintain the anges 8 and 9 in close frictional contact with the opposed portions 2 of the upright or standard S so that the plate P will be eiiectively held in selected adjustment along the slot 3 yet be free for 'readyfmovement under slightstrain or stress along the slot 3 as may be determined by the requirements of practice.

The meter rod 1, hereinbefore referred to, is freely and slidably disposed through the flanges 5 and 9 and through the slot 3 and the forward or front end portion of this rod 1 isprovided'with an outwardly and laterally disposed pin l2 which is directed through an elongated slot' I4 in the tail portion l5 of a swinging index hand orfpointer It which is herein disclosed as in simulation of an arrow. The lpointer .or hand, I6 is freely mounted for *,-swinging movement upon an outstanding trunmon V1 carried by theplateP and disposed laterallytherebeyond in thesame direction as the flange 5.

".The ,ton-edge lB-.ofthe plate P is curved cna radius concentricwith the trunnionl I1 and said plateP immediately adjacent to saidcurvededge I6 is provided with the graduations 19,-preferablyspaced in sixteenthsofan inch. The pointer onhand- Iltis. preferablyat thesame side of .the plateras theangel .and the trunnion I1 extends 4Abeyondgthe oppositeace of the plate y.P and has. freely mounted thereona rock arm 2B.

flhisarrniris .of a length .to .extend .beyond the curved edge I8.of theplate P and saidexltended portion of.. the arrnlisreturned tooprovide. an inwardlydisposed nger 2i .which rides alongthe giraduatioms` titan-d constitutesan index fon coaction withk said rgraduations. '2 Land.. the zadjacentportion. yof .the arm 20fhave close frictional contact lwith theadjacent inarginal portion of .the .plate ,to provide .means whereby` .the-arm 2s will bereiiectively. held `as .the sameiisswung .to adjust vthe lfinger ork indexl 2i withr respect tto ythe-.gr: i.duations I 9.

The rod iis oi-such lengthras mayibepreferred andiaalsoA freelydisposedthrough-fan outer npart 22 v.of the .guide ,bracket Gif and which .partA is spaced-outwardly with respecttoythe vflange Ela .distancesui'licientto .assure1ectilinear..movement of ther-rodi, The part .22, as, herein disclosed, comprises a .laterally-directed angespaced from and paraileling the flange 9 and whichrflange 22 ex-tendslaterally.from'an. intemediate web 23 disposedva'long a margin of rthe flanged-said web .Z3-and flanges .l1-and 22 Ybeing preferably-(integral,

The l, rear` extremity of A the` `rod 1 has pivotally connected therewith, as aty 24,- the inner end portion .ofa rod extension orfinger: 25. The. pivotal connection YlMis suchv as to al10w=the extension or finger r25.150 have upward swinging. movement .with respect .to therod 1. When at the limitof its downward movement, theextension rod or .nger 25 iseinralignment with-.the rod T which israssuredby'contact of thefinner-portion ofthe extensionirod or finger 25 with the adjacent end portionofthe rodV l yat -a pointin advance ofthe pivotalconnection. 42li.

When it is desired toAtest--afwheel of'a car for cambenthe deviceis placed'near the-outerside vof the wheel upon a horizontal surface and close- 1yY .adjacent to ,the Wheel. The plate P is then lowered to bring the outer pointed end of the extension arm Ornger 25 into contact with the rim ofthe wheel at its lowermost point. This `The linger 4 contact is made by moving the rod i endwise in a direction toward the wheel being tested which will result in a movement of the index or hand I6 out- Wardly with respect to the graduations I9 and after which the arm 2@ is swung to bring the index or finger to the point or register of the index or hand i6. After this operation, the plate P is then moved upwardly and so adjusted along the slot 3gto ,permit the outer pointed end of the rod extension or finger 25 to have proper contact with the rim of the Wheel at the high point thereof.

4The camber of the wheel will cause this adjustment or movement of the rod l to bring the index vor hand it to a position inwardly of the previously ,set arml and the graduations between said previously set arm 28 and the second reading of the index or hand it will readily show the camber. If .the camber should not be as desired, the mechanic will then readily know what is necessary tobe done.

It is to be noted that the pointer'or'hand I 6 in its movement wil?. at no time be `obstructed by the index or ringer 2i and, therefore, the Kextent of inner or outer camber can be determined'with equal facility.

It is believed to be readily obvious that thejdeviceas herein described will be operated insubstantially the same manner hereinbefore *explained for metering camber, should it be desired to meter the caster.

The rod i is herein disclosed as having associated therewith an extension rod or iinger 25Yso that said extension rod or finger may be'readily moved upwardly under such conditions Where/the hub cap of the Wheel being tested may intersect 'the path of travel of the rod i as it is movedup or down which is the case with some of theolder models of cars.

overlying one of the side flanges 26 of the -'upright or standard S rand extending substantially from one end thereof to the other is a plate 2l. This plate 2Iis held in position by the bolts28 or the like and surrounding said bolts 28 between the flange 26 and vthe plate 2l are the washers ,Y 2S whereby the piate spaced as desiredJ from the'adjacent flange 2.

' The adjacent edge of the plate 2l is straight from end to end and substantially parallel with the front face of the portion 2 of the upright "or standards.

Mounted for free movement along the plate 21 is a slide 39 provided in its forward marginal portion with an index or pointer 3l for ycoaction with the graduations ll on the upright or standard S. This slide 3@ has threaded therethrough a binding screw .32 coacting with the plate 21 in a manner whereby the slide 3D may be held in desired selected position along the `plate 21. This slide Siirprovides means for registering such measurements as may be deemed advisable during the use of the device.

It is to Abe noted that the tail portion ilof the index or pointer i6 is of a length to extend below the meter plate P and said extended part is provided with an outstanding knob 33 or the like. This Varrangement provides for the lready and convenient shifting of the rod'l with'a consequent adjustment, of course,'of the index or pointer i6.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a wheel gauge constructed 'in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility ,with which ,it may be assembled and operated.

I claim:

1. A gauging device for testing the camber and caster of wheels, comprising a standard having a slot extending lengthwise thereof, a meter plate having a part contacting the standard and bridging the slot, a guide bracket at the side of the standard opposite to the meter plate, an elongated member freely disposed through the said part of the meter plate, the slot of the standard and through the bracket, expansible means carried by said elongated member and engaging the bracket for irictionally securing the bracket and said part of the plate to the standard, whereby the plate is frictionally held in selected position along the slot, a pointer pivoted on the meter plate, and a rod supported by the bracket for lengthwise sliding movement perpendicular to the slot and operatively coupled to the pointer for swinging the latter.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a base, a vertical standard rigidly secured to the base and comprising a channel member -having a relatively wide central portion and spaced longitudinal side flanges, said central portion having a slot lengthwise of the standard, a scale formed along one side of the slot upon the face of the central portion opposite from the flanges, a meter plate having an angularly turned side flange disposed against said face of the central portion of the standard and carrying a pointer for coaction with said scale, an index hand pivotally mounted upon the meter plate for swinging movement in a vertical plane paralleling the slot, a relatively long bracket having a vertically disposed central portion and spaced parallel end flanges, one of the said end flanges of the bracket being disposed between the flanges of the standard against the side of the standard central portion opposite from the meter plate and in covering relation with the Slot, the said one of the bracket flanges and the side flange of the meter plate having aligned apertures, coupling elements between the said one of the bracket flanges and the meter plate ange and passing through the slot, resilient elements carried by said coupling means and frictionally maintaining the central portion of the standard secured between the bracket flange and meter plate flange, the other iiange of the bracket also having an aperture aligned with the rst mentioned apertures, and a rod supported in and extending through said aligned apertures for lengthwise movement perpendicular to the standard, said rod being operatively coupled at one end with said index hand.

3. A device of the character stated in claim 2 with a bar secured lengthwise of the outer face of the flange of the standard adjacent to said scale, the bar being in spaced relation with the adjacent flange, a runner slidably mounted on the bar, means for securing the runner in a desired position on the bar, and a pointer carried by the runner and disposed across the said central portion of the channel bar for coaction with said scale.

JOSEPH L. WILSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the Iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 603,782 Brown May 10, 1898 1,209,345 Smith Dec. 19, 1916 1,345,597 Jantsch et al July 6, 1920 1,411,725 Hill Apr. 4, 1922 1,589,048 Bussard June 15, 1926 1,601,261 Prather Sept. 28, 1926 2,108,383 Morse Feb. 15, 1938 2,346,063 Bardega Apr. 4, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 626,283 Germany Feb. 24, 1936 750,286 France May 22, 1933 

